Seed-potato-cutting machine.



B. R. & M. J. LYSTER. SEED POTATO CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY13. 1909.

' PatentedJune 14,1910.

atria/nu R w s. GRAHAM co PNOTO-LITNUGRAF'HERS. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

BENTON R. LYSTER AND MORTON J. LYSTER, OF WHITEFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

I SEED-POTATO-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1909.

Serial No. 195,688.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BENTON R. LYSTER and MORTON J. LYSTER, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Whitefield, in the county of Coosand State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Seed-Potato-Cutting Machines, of which the following isa specification.

Our invention relates to machines for cutting seed potatoes, and has forits object the provision of a device consisting of a base having anopening therein in which are secured a plurality of blades crossed inthe center and areciprocating plunger having an arm secured thereto toengage the potato to push it through the opening, where it is sliced bythe knives. A crosscut knife is pivotally secured to the base andadapted to swing across the opening to cut the potatoes cross-wise, sothat .the potato may be cut into as many pieces as found expedient foreflicient planting, and the butt or seed end of the potato may be cutoff and thrown outside for use in feeding stock.

Our invention will be described in detail hereinafter and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a slde view of ourseed-potato cutter, showing it mounted on a table; Fig. 2, a plan viewof the base, showing the plunger casing or support in section; and Fig.3, an end view of the machine.

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate correspondingparts throughout all of the views.

The base 1 of our improved machine may be secured to a table A or anyother suitable support, and is provided with a hole 2, preferablycircular, in the edges of which are secured a plurality ofcutting-blades 3, diametrically disposed and crossed in the center ofthe opening. The number of blades shown in the drawings is two, so thatthe potato will be cut into four slices, but the number may be increasedto three or more, if desired, without altering the spirit of ourinvention.

4 indicates an upright tubular casing secured to base 1 and providedwith a longitudinal slot 5 on the sides next to the opening 2 andopposite thereto. 7

6 indicates a plunger slidably mounted in casing 4:, 7 an arm secured tothe lower end of the plunger and slidably mounted in slot 5, and 8 ahandle secured to the upper end of the plunger to actuate it.

9 indicates a coil-spring secured to arm 7 and projection 10 extendingfrom the casing to hold the arm and plunger normally in a raisedposition.

The under side of arm 7 is provided with pins 11 and 12 or other holdingdevices located above the opening 2 to engage the potato, pin 11 beingdirectly above the center of the opening and the crossed part of theblades 3, while the pin 12 is over one blade only, so that the device isadapted for use with large or small potatoes, the larger potatoes, beingengaged by pin 11, being cut into the number of slices of which theblades are capable, while smaller potatoes, which may have a smallernumber of eyes, will be engaged by pin 12 and cut into only two slices.

14 indicates a knife pivotally secured to the top of base 1, and mountedto swing across opening 2, which is used to cut the potato crosswiseinto chunks when the size of the potato cut will permit it, and also maybe used to cut off the butt or seed end of the potato which is engagedby pin 11 and which contains no eyes, so that the end may be put asideto be used as stock-feed.

15 indicates a rod secured to an ear 16, extending laterally from thehandle 8, extended through a hole 17 in base 1, and having a handle 18secured to its lower end to operate plunger 6, if desired.

We have'described our invention as being used to cut potatoes, but it isapparent that it may be used to slice other roots and fruits forculinary, stock-feeding, or drying purposes, if desired, so that we donot limit ourselves to its application, as stated.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is A seed-potatoslicing machine comprising a base having an opening therein,slicingblades secured diametrically of said opening, a tubular casingmounted on said base ad- Patented June 14., 1910.

jacent to saidopening, said tubular casing having a longitudinal slottherein, a plunger mounted in the casing, an arm secured to the plungerand extending through the slot in the casing, the end of the armextended over the opening in the base, a spring secured to the arm andcasing to normally raise the arm, a handle secured to the upper end ofthe plunger, a rod secured to the handle and extended downwardly throughthe base, a handle secured to the lower end of the rod under the base,and a knife pivot-ally secured to the base and adapted to swing over theopening therein.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set 15 our hands 1n presence of twosubscrlblng witnesses.

BENTON R. LYSTER. MORTON J. LYSTER.

WVitnesses as to signature of Morton J. Lyster:

.LULU B. MASTERS,

E. M. BOWKER.

